Jaipur

Not too early a start today as we set off for Jaipur at 8.30. but it was a long drive which included an hour's stop for lunch, and we arrived at our hotel about 3.30. The drive was reminiscent of Vietnam but the roads are much better and not nearly so busy once we left Delhi. As we progressed towards Jaipur the traffic began to change with camels pulling carts, competing with lorries, buses and machines which were hauling road materials. Just like the road between Kinross and the Forth Bridge there were lots of diversions but not always people working on the road improvements. Other sights were villages we passed through, some with very dilapidated housing and sometimes new blocks of flats going up. Women in saris were doing some of the building labour. We saw our first monkeys by the road, camels and donkeys, and in Amber there were elephants going up the street to the Fort - tomorrow's mode of transport.

The hotel is definitely a class above the one in Delhi - more of a Maharajah's palace with lots of elaborate Rajasthan decoration. After a short rest to unpack we all set off by cycle rickshaw to the centre of Jaipur. We were taken through a market selling mostly foodstuff and stopped occasionally to hear about different foods or how the man was making keys. We were followed by beggars and persistent hawkers in the streets but just had to adopt a strict position by not getting involved.

Eventually we climbed up steps to a roof and were able to watch the chaos of the traffic below. There were lots of boys flying kites on the skyline, reminiscent of "The Kiterunner". Our meal tonight was typical of Rajasthan, in our case different vegetable thalis - delicious as usual. It was however rather too much food today - must remember to eat less tomorrow! If you feel like checking back a couple of photos have now been added to our previous posts. Much more to come!